Booting from cloned SSD, removal of old installation

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  1. Posts : 6
    windows 10
       #1

    Booting from cloned SSD, removal of old installation


    Hi all,

    I'm in a bit of a situation of my own causing here. I had a lot of trouble opening up my new laptop to install an nvme drive (HP among others has begun using locktite like solutions to render maintenance and repair of devices difficult), so I installed the nvme (the original boot drive was a 7200 rpm hdd), and used samsungs data migration tool to clone the drive. And put the machine together again.

    I can boot from the SSD after using bcdedit, but it gives me an OS choice that I would like to remove at bootup and remove the windows install from the hdd without removing or disconnecting the drive.

    The crux of my issue is that I seek a solution that does not require the removal of the laptops backplate again to disconnect the drive. The cloned drive is working perfectly.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #2

    Post image of disk partitions from disk management. I fear the boot files are on hdd.

    If so, we will need to move them to the ssd before wiping hdd or else pc will not boot.

    There is no need to remove drives - problem is easily sorted, but we need to check your disk partitions first to do it in right order.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    cereberus said:
    Post image of disk partitions from disk management. I fear the boot files are on hdd.

    If so, we will need to move them to the ssd before wiping hdd or else pc will not boot.

    There is no need to remove drives - problem is easily sorted, but we need to check your disk partitions first to do it in right order.
    Here is the setup:

    the 230gb drive is the SSD.

    Booting from cloned SSD, removal of old installation-drive-structure.png
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,799
    Linux Mint 20.1 Win10Prox64
       #4

    1. Win+R
    2. Type: msconfig, click on "Boot" tab
    3. You'd see 2 entries. Click to hilite the one you want to delete then click "Delete"
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 6
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    topgundcp said:
    1. Win+R
    2. Type: msconfig, click on "Boot" tab
    3. You'd see 2 entries. Click to hilite the one you want to delete then click "Delete"
    Much thanks! It solved the problem instantly.

    Any idea what would be the ideal way to clean the 1tb drive ? I tried diskpart clean command but it did not allow me to perform that action on a drive with windows files and efi partition etc on it. Boot from a live linux usb and do it?

    +rep
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 4,594
    Windows 10 Pro
       #6

    Install Partition Wizard, it`ll do it.

    Have you made certain the ssd boots on it`s own yet ?

    It does look ok, but I would not format the hard drive until you know the ssd boots on its own.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #7

    jfp555 said:
    Much thanks! It solved the problem instantly.

    Any idea what would be the ideal way to clean the 1tb drive ? I tried diskpart clean command but it did not allow me to perform that action on a drive with windows files and efi partition etc on it. Boot from a live linux usb and do it?

    +rep
    You should be able to do it from the recovery environment. Boot to the recovery options, use command prompt. I would disconnect the disk you want to keep, drive letters are different in recovery.

    Or you could go just like you were doing a clean install and use the advanced options and delete each partition.

    It can also be done from a Bootable rescue disk.

    As @AddRAM said, Partition Wizard can do it as well.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    AddRAM said:
    Install Partition Wizard, it`ll do it.

    Have you made certain the ssd boots on it`s own yet ?

    It does look ok, but I would not format the hard drive until you know the ssd boots on its own.
    essenbe said:
    You should be able to do it from the recovery environment. Boot to the recovery options, use command prompt. I would disconnect the disk you want to keep, drive letters are different in recovery.

    Or you could go just like you were doing a clean install and use the advanced options and delete each partition.

    It can also be done from a Bootable rescue disk.

    As @AddRAM said, Partition Wizard can do it as well.
    Much thanks for the helpful advice.

    After the failed diskpart, the 1tb drive refused to show up in the file manager.

    Fortunately I had installed Lubuntu on a USB. I booted from that, and deleted all partitions on the 1tb drive except the recovery one.

    After booting into windows again, I used dskmgmt.exe to reformat the empty space into a NTFS partition. The Recovery partition I left alone, but I cannot see the recovery partition in windows explorer. Although its not a problem at the moment, I would still like to know how to access it should something go south.

    Booting from cloned SSD, removal of old installation-disk-02.pngBooting from cloned SSD, removal of old installation-file-manager.png
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #9

    I believe That is the OEM Recovery partition to recover what was originally installed on your Laptop. I would think you wouldn't need it.

    You could use Macrium Reflect to create an image on an external drive that could be restored if needed. You can't see it because it has no drive letter and was designed that way.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 4,594
    Windows 10 Pro
       #10

    The Recovery partition would be used at 1st boot (there's a function key to start it, the screen would show you) or from within windows.

    If you make an image as Steve has suggested, you will never need it.

    If you don't have an external you can store an image on the 1TB drive, it`s better than not having an image at all.
      My Computers


 

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